Glossary

Safety Crews On asphalt rallies, priority drivers are supported by a safety crew which passes through the stages in advance of the competitors to report back on weather and surface condition, which may have changed following reconnaissance. Sometimes called gravel crews.

ScrutineersFIA-sanctioned technical officials who check the legality of WRC cars before, during and after each event.

Sequential GearboxThe type fitted to most WRC cars. Gear selections are typically made by a steering wheel-mounted paddle rather than the traditional 'H' gate manual system typically found on production cars.

ServiceThere are usually three service periods during a WRC day – 15 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes at lunchtime and 45 minutes in the evening. Teams can perform repairs or modifications to cars during these periods, and select their tyre choice for the following loop of stages.

ShakedownThe opportunity for crews to test their competition cars on terrain similar to the rally before the event starts. Competitors must drive through the shakedown stage at least three times, with all passes timed.

Stages The competitive sections of the rally, also called special stages, where drivers and co-drivers drive as fast as they can to complete the section in the shortest time possible.

Stage TimeThe time recorded from the standing start of a stage to the flying finish.

Start orderSee running order

StewardsThe three-strong panel of officials who ensure the smooth running of each WRC event. The Chairman and one member are appointed by the FIA and must be of a different nationality from that of the organising country. The third member is appointed by the ASN of the country organising the rally. Stewards have the power to make changes to events and apply penalties if rules are broken. Bulletins and decisions of the Stewards are posted on an official noticeboard at every rally.

Stop Control A point 200-500 metres past the flying finish where the car must stop to have its time recorded.

StudsMetal spikes fitted to the treads of winter tyres to give grip on snow and ice.

Super-Special Stage (SSS)A stage – often set up in a sports stadium – with two parallel tracks that enable two drivers to race each other. Super-special stages are also run in city centre locations.

Target Time The official time allowed for a WRC car to complete a non-competitive road section. Time penalties are applied if competitors check-in earlier or later than their target time.

Time Card Carried by the co-driver, the time card is a record of stage times and time control arrival times throughout the rally. The card is stamped by officials as the rally progresses and provides proof of a competitor’s whereabouts in case of a dispute.

Time Control The place where cars must stop to get an official passing time recorded by rally officials.

Time PenaltyRally crews are penalised 10 seconds for every minute the car is late to a time control – for instance a stage start, service-in control, service-out control. Checking-in early to a time control carries a stiffer penalty of one minute for every minute early.

Turbocharger An exhaust-driven turbine that pressurises the fuel/air mixture into the engine to enable it to develop more power. All WRC cars use turbochargers (turbos) which develop 4-5 times the pressure of the turbo on a road car.

WRC 2 WRC 2 is the leading feeder series to the FIA World Rally Championship. The series is open to four-wheel-drive cars from the R5, R4, S2000 and N4 classes. The WRC 2 Champion titles for Teams, Drivers and Co-Drivers will be awarded to the team, driver and co-driver who have scored the highest number of points from 6 of the first 7 rallies which they have entered to score points. On the remaining rallies they may neither score nor detract points from other registered drivers.

WRC 3A support series open to two-wheel-drive cars homologated under the R1, R2 and R3 class rules. The WRC 3 Champion titles for Teams, Drivers and Co-Drivers will be awarded to the team, driver and co-driver who have scored the highest number of points from 6 of the first 7 rallies which they have entered to score points. On the remaining rallies they may neither score nor detract points from other registered drivers.

WRC PromoterWRC Promoter GmbH is a joint company of Red Bull Media House and the sportsman media holding. It is responsible for all commercial aspects of the FIA World Rally Championship, including broadcast formats, TV production and the marketing of global media and sponsorship rights. WRC Promoter also has responsibility to increase the field of participants and to propose the venues that form the FIA WRC calendar.

Yellow flagAn emergency warning system used by organisers to instruct competitors to immediately reduce speed. The flags may be waved on stage by marshals at radio points (situated at approximately 5 km intervals). Additionally, a yellow flag LED light situated on the FIA Emergency Console in every competing car will flash and an alarm will sound in the cockpit. Crews must confirm acknowledgement of the electronic Yellow Flag by pressing the OK button as soon as they see it and must immediately reduce speed and maintain this until the stage end. A crew which has been shown the yellow flag will be given a notional time for the stage.

Zero CarA course car driven through a stage before the competitors start to alert spectators that the section is live. The zero car is preceded by the triple zero and double zero cars.

Target Time The official time allowed for a WRC car to complete a non-competitive road section. Time penalties are applied if competitors check-in earlier or later than their target time.

Time Card Carried by the co-driver, the time card is a record of stage times and time control arrival times throughout the rally. The card is stamped by officials as the rally progresses and provides proof of a competitor’s whereabouts in case of a dispute.

Time Control The place where cars must stop to get an official passing time recorded by rally officials.

Time PenaltyRally crews are penalised 10 seconds for every minute the car is late to a time control – for instance a stage start, service-in control, service-out control. Checking-in early to a time control carries a stiffer penalty of one minute for every minute early.

Turbocharger An exhaust-driven turbine that pressurises the fuel/air mixture into the engine to enable it to develop more power. All WRC cars use turbochargers (turbos) which develop 4-5 times the pressure of the turbo on a road car.

WRC 2 WRC 2 is the leading feeder series to the FIA World Rally Championship. The series is open to four-wheel-drive cars from the R5, R4, S2000 and N4 classes. The WRC 2 Champion titles for Teams, Drivers and Co-Drivers will be awarded to the team, driver and co-driver who have scored the highest number of points from 6 of the first 7 rallies which they have entered to score points. On the remaining rallies they may neither score nor detract points from other registered drivers.

WRC 3A support series open to two-wheel-drive cars homologated under the R1, R2 and R3 class rules. The WRC 3 Champion titles for Teams, Drivers and Co-Drivers will be awarded to the team, driver and co-driver who have scored the highest number of points from 6 of the first 7 rallies which they have entered to score points. On the remaining rallies they may neither score nor detract points from other registered drivers.

WRC PromoterWRC Promoter GmbH is a joint company of Red Bull Media House and the sportsman media holding. It is responsible for all commercial aspects of the FIA World Rally Championship, including broadcast formats, TV production and the marketing of global media and sponsorship rights. WRC Promoter also has responsibility to increase the field of participants and to propose the venues that form the FIA WRC calendar.

Yellow flagAn emergency warning system used by organisers to instruct competitors to immediately reduce speed. The flags may be waved on stage by marshals at radio points (situated at approximately 5 km intervals). Additionally, a yellow flag LED light situated on the FIA Emergency Console in every competing car will flash and an alarm will sound in the cockpit. Crews must confirm acknowledgement of the electronic Yellow Flag by pressing the OK button as soon as they see it and must immediately reduce speed and maintain this until the stage end. A crew which has been shown the yellow flag will be given a notional time for the stage.

Zero CarA course car driven through a stage before the competitors start to alert spectators that the section is live. The zero car is preceded by the triple zero and double zero cars.